Kottayam: M.A. John, senior Congress leader, has come down heavily on the newly declared liquor policy of the UDF Government. He appealed to women to organise themselves against the flagrant violation of the election promise.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the new rules were not only against Clause V of the constitution of the Indian National Congress but also against Article 47 of the Indian Constitution.

Dubbing the new liquor policy a "fraud on the people," Mr. John pointed out that though the UDF had come to power promising implementation of prohibition in a phased manner, it had liberalised the same. It would not be wrong to believe that the present Government had come under the control of the liquor lobby, he said. "Today they have lifted the `dry day' declared on the first of every month. The liquor lobby is now hoping that the Government would lift the declared dry days on Gandhi Jayanthi and Sri Narayana Jayanthi," he said.

He criticised the provision to shift the site of the bar on the basis of the same licence, simplification of the licensing procedures and liberalisation of licensing.

"Never in the history of the Congress party, has any Government implemented such a liberal liquor policy, Mr. John said.

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